AGCO reminds casino operators that promotions must adhere to standards
The regulator has said that any “free play” promotion must involve no financial risk for the player.
Canada.- The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued a statement reminding all licensed land-based casino operators and charitable gaming facility operators that any promotion, bonus, or credit advertised as “free” must meet the standard’s requirements.
AGCO stated that operators must follow the requirements set out in Standard 2.2.2 of the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming. It said: “if you promote something as ‘free,’ it must genuinely be free. Players should not have to spend or risk their own money to qualify. Promotions that suggest otherwise are considered misleading and do not comply with the standards.”
The regulator stated that promotions that mislead players, including offers that only appear to be “free”, can lead to harmful outcomes. “When players are led to believe they’re receiving something at no cost, but are actually required to gamble to receive it, it can encourage them to spend beyond their means. This creates a risk of financial harm, emotional stress, and ultimately undermines public trust in the regulated gaming industry,” it said.
The reminder follows AGCO’s update to its Responsible Gambling (RG) Training Standards for gaming and lottery. The regulator no longer requires registrar approval for RG training programmes for casino and lottery employees.
